Local Political and Entertainment Figures Recognize Extraordinary Support of America's Wounded Warriors as Operation Music Aid Surpasses Donation Milestone

l. to r.: David Robertson, President of the Michael Robertson Foundation; Mark Maulucci, Yamaha District Manager; singer-songwriter Nicole Frechette; George Hauer, Operation Music Aid; Clark Kniceley, Operation Music Aid.

BUENA PARK, Calif.Operation Music Aid, which provides musical instruments to wounded service men and women in the United States, Iraq and Afghanistan, received more gifts.

On October 27, 2009, the Yamaha Corporation of America presented 20 new FG700 guitars and two DD-65 drum kits to Operation Music Aid at the program's headquarters, Madison Music in Madison, Conn. Local political and entertainment figures on hand for the presentation ceremony included Madison First Selectman Al Goldberg and State Senator Ed Meyer, along with country-pop singer Nicole Frechette and Native American flutist Joseph FireCrow.

Co-founded in 2006 by George Hauer and Clark Kniceley of Madison, Conn., Operation Music Aid is a charitable organization that has distributed over 1,500 musical instruments to injured active-duty United States military personnel with the goal of helping them with their physical and psychological rehabilitation.

George Hauer of Operation Music Aid is interviewed by a local television news station.

Yamaha, the largest musical industry donor to Operation Music Aid, has provided 120 guitars, keyboards and electronic drum kits valued at $35,000 to the organization. When scheduling permits, Operation Music Aid will be taking a Yamaha guitar to the Connecticut Statehouse, where it will be signed by Governor Jodi Rell and sent to a wounded soldier from Connecticut.

"Yamaha understands the powerful connection between wellness, healing and music and one of the company's key goals is to support wellness in all people, especially those in need, says Carol Baker, vice president of Human Resources at the Yamaha Corporation of America and head of Yamaha Cares. "It's gratifying to know that our instruments are providing wounded soldiers with music as a healing tool."

Yamaha Cares (www.yamahacares.com) is an employee-based initiative dedicated to charitable works to promote education, arts, health and human services, and community development in the areas where its employees live and work, as well as to spread the gift of music to people throughout the United States.